TheExpeditioner Travel Site » Japanhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com
The Expeditioner is a travel site for the avid traveler, featuring travel articles, videos and news.Fri, 31 Jul 2015 14:35:23 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3The World’s Shortest Escalator Can Be Found Just South Of Tokyo [Travel Video]http://www.theexpeditioner.com/travel-video/The-Worlds-Shortest-Escalator-Can-Be-Found-Just-South-Of-Tokyo-Travel-Video/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/travel-video/The-Worlds-Shortest-Escalator-Can-Be-Found-Just-South-Of-Tokyo-Travel-Video/#commentsFri, 04 Jan 2013 03:41:41 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=18670In case you find yourself in the city of Kawasaki, Japan (located just south of Tokyo), you won’t find much beyond the local baseball stadium, Kawasaki Stadium, and a large industrial center along the waterfront. However, if you get out at the Kawasaki Train Station and head across the street to the More’s department store, […]

In case you find yourself in the city of Kawasaki, Japan (located just south of Tokyo), you won’t find much beyond the local baseball stadium, Kawasaki Stadium, and a large industrial center along the waterfront. However, if you get out at the Kawasaki Train Station and head across the street to the More’s department store, you will find the world’s shortest escalator, as Reddit user Etegamiguy recently discovered in the above video.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/travel-video/The-Worlds-Shortest-Escalator-Can-Be-Found-Just-South-Of-Tokyo-Travel-Video/feed/2Top 6 Hipster Neighborhoods Around The Worldhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/04/26/top-6-hipster-neighborhoods-around-the-world/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/04/26/top-6-hipster-neighborhoods-around-the-world/#commentsThu, 26 Apr 2012 16:48:52 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=16329Once an evasive creature contained to their natural habitats in Williamsburg, Portland and Austin, hipster culture is now globally ubiquitous. Blame it on cultural imperialism, the undeniable twee delight of appliqué birds, or the sheer convenience of ironic facial hair, just know this: The hipster has reached these international cities, and will no doubt continue to penetrate the far-flung […]

]]>Once an evasive creature contained to their natural habitats in Williamsburg, Portland and Austin, hipster culture is now globally ubiquitous. Blame it on cultural imperialism, the undeniable twee delight of appliqué birds, or the sheer convenience of ironic facial hair, just know this: The hipster has reached these international cities, and will no doubt continue to penetrate the far-flung corners of the earth (at least until the next trend strikes).

1) Shoreditch in London, U.K.

This East London neighborhood is by far the most painfully hip in all of Londontown (painful because of the high prices and really, really tight jeans). The bulk of the action can be found around Old Street and Brick Lane, where lanky girls and boys alternate chain smoking with pouting.

The area is peppered with intricate graffiti (or “street art” if we’re going to be pretentious), which makes it perfect for a daytime walk. But even in the daytime, make sure you don’t risk being caught without your Ray-Bans and attitude. Like any decent hotspot, the real fun happens at night at the slew of random bars, themed speakeasies and warehouse parties. The latest development in the area is Boxpark: a temporary (at least for the next five years) pop-up mall made out of shipping containers, featuring a mix of international and independent fashion designers as well as galleries and cafés.

2) Amsterdam-Noord in Amsterdam, Netherlands

With the amount of bikes in Amsterdam, it’s no surprise that this city is hipster friendly, but the crux of action is in the north. “I feel like I’ve been exiled to hipster island,” said the indelible Anthony Bourdain upon visiting the industrial, but oh-so-cool neighborhood of Amsterdam-Noord. The area is peppered with former warehouses and shipyards that are now outfitted as tricked-out offices, art studios and even a skate park. Even Red Bull and MTV got in on the action and moved there.

3) Shimokitazawa in Tokyo, Japan

In western Tokyo you’ll find a hub of cool indie and antique shops, galleries, resto-bars and live music venues. Shimokitazawa (pronounced SHEE-mo-kee-tah-zah-wah) is actually pretty tame compared to the neon glare of the rest of Tokyo, but it’s still a nucleus for young Toykoite culture vultures. Most streets are pedestrian-only; the small storefronts, which are mainly converted residences, lend to lazy exploring and browsing in the wealth of chill record shops and second-hand clothing stores.

4) La Roma in Mexico City, Mexico

A local described La Roma (also called Colonia Roma) and neighboring La Condesa as the East Village and West Village of Mexico City, respectively. Along Alvaro Obregon, vendors assemble to sell books, antiques and collectibles, while Calle Orizaba and Calle Colima is know as an art Mecca full of galleries (such as Galería OMR). Like the other hipster locales, La Roma mixes grungy roots with a fresh high-end influx. La Roma isn’t without a grime factor. The area — though upscale— has problems with prostitutes and squatters, but hipsters don’t scare easy.

5) Kreuzberg in Berlin, Germany

First off, it almost goes without saying that Berlin is a modern-day hodgepodge of hipster culture. In fact, it may be the hipster-est city in all of Europe. Hipsters of every sub-genre congregate at Görlitzer Park for impromptu jam sessions, DJ sets and brews (though they don’t have PBR) at the park bar, Das Edelweiss. Other activities are centered upon Oranien Strasse and Skalitzer Strasse where the nightlife magic happens.

6) Fitzroy in Melbourne, Australia

Fitzroy’s main drag is Brunswick Street, full of cheap, vegan eats and funky, retro pubs. The area is packed with the usual mix of the beautiful and the damned: broke students, fashionistas, boho artists and of course 20-something hipsters. The neighborhood is bursting with creativity as depicted by the slew of always-curious street art and graffiti, which can even be observed via an official tour. Take it all in and enjoy. If you’re not feeling Zooey Deschanel enough, the neighborhood is also home to Rose Street Artists Market hawking handmade goodies like clothes, jewelry and homewares.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/04/26/top-6-hipster-neighborhoods-around-the-world/feed/17My Experience During The Japan Earthquake One Year Agohttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/03/09/my-experience-during-the-japan-earthquake-one-year-ago/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/03/09/my-experience-during-the-japan-earthquake-one-year-ago/#commentsFri, 09 Mar 2012 14:28:17 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=15983It struck around 2:45 in the afternoon on what had been a beautiful spring day. I was nearing the end of my contract as an English teacher at a middle school about an hour outside Tokyo. I’d been in good spirits due to the winding down of the workday and the promise of the weekend. […]

It struck around 2:45 in the afternoon on what had been a beautiful spring day. I was nearing the end of my contract as an English teacher at a middle school about an hour outside Tokyo. I’d been in good spirits due to the winding down of the workday and the promise of the weekend. My current ease wasn’t to last much longer.

The 9.0 earthquake and following tsunami was a massive disaster for the people of Japan. Thousands had been killed and in one village alone 10,000 people were feared missing. Luckily for me, my town was pretty far way from all the devastation.

This is my experience of the quake.

I was in the teachers’ office with three other sensei, deeply engrossed in writing something for my blog. The wind outside had been fairly strong all day, shaking the windows of the paper-thin walls and blowing documents all about the office, so we didn’t notice the tremor at first. A teacher murmured “Jishin” (earthquake in Japanese), which brought me out of my transfixed state and raised my head from the screen. I felt my desk and the floor underneath me jolting slightly.

Iʼm ashamed to say now that a smirk began to form on my stupid face. I remember saying to a few friends that “I donʼt want to have lived in Japan a whole year and not felt a single earthquake,” which was the case up till then. I take that back now. “Is this finally it?” I thought. What are they so worried about, itʼs not that bad?

The shake gathered in intensity over the next 10 seconds. Soon the whole school was beginning to sway and the earth was showing no signs of resting. The seriousness of the situation began to take hold. “This’ll do now,” I thought, but the Pacific Rim had other ideas. I stood up from my desk and tried not to show the unease I was feeling. The teachers attuned to the seriousness of the situation, sprang into action. They put on helmets, switched on the TV and made an announcement to the students to remain calm. All the while I stood still, useless and frightful, not knowing what to do. It became apparent that this wasn’t going to stop anytime soon, no matter how much I wished.

The waves of the quake would gather in intensity for a few moments, shaking everything wildly and rocking the whole school. They would weaken but only for a few seconds before returning to full strength. Above me, I wondered if the roof would cave in, bringing down two floors of desks, chairs and screaming children. The rattle of the office walls grew in intensity as the earthquake did. I looked towards the open door; there was an escape route. “Get out, Get out!” my brain screamed at me. I tried to fight these thoughts and looked at the faces of my co-teachers. They weren’t panicking, so neither should I. I stared at the TV (not understanding a word) and tried to compose myself.

Meanwhile the Pacific Rim continued to force itself under Japan, causing mayhem and destruction on the surface and brewing up massive waves in the sea. Perhaps the worst part was when I felt the tectonic plate I was standing on begin to roll. The ground felt like a boat swaying on high seas or a plane shuddering in turbulence. I had never felt a fear like this. As the floor bobbed up and down like ice cubes floating in a glass, I felt very insignificant and not in control of my own destiny. No wonder people used to blame earthquakes on the gods. Unsure of what to do I copied my co-teachers and tucked myself under my desk, preparing for carnage.

I must give complete respect for the Japanese people. In a country divided by three plates of the Earth’s crust, they are prepared for and have experienced many earthquakes. Everything is built with earthquakes in mind and must pass strict requirements. This quake was extraordinarily strong. I’m in awe that the level of destruction caused by the earthquake itself wasn’t that high.

I think the quake lasted for two minutes in total. As the earth came to rest again, I slowly pulled myself up from under the desk and sat in my chair. I was shaking uncontrollably. The teachers came running back into the staff room for an emergency meeting to decide if the students should go home.

The school caretaker came in and continued to clean around us. She looked at me and quickly said something. By the time I registered what she said (“Scary wasn’t it”), she’d already gone to clean something else. Good job too, because I was still shaking and wouldn’t have been able to speak anyways. I held my hand out in front of me and watched it shake. “If she can continue to work, then I can get over this,” I thought. I sat there and tried to decipher what the teachers were talking about.

The din of the teachers’ chatter was abruptly stopped as a strong aftershock hit us. Everyone went silent and sat still for just a moment, bracing themselves. Collectively, the teachers shouted, “The students!” and rushed out of the room to evacuate the kids. By the time most of them were out the door, the aftershock had finished.

A minute later, the students quietly filtered out of the school and onto the playground. I was surprised at how calm and quiet they were. All of them wearing yellow cushions on their heads. Months before I asked one of my co-teachers why all the students have cushions on their seats. She told me they were in case of earthquakes. I didn’t see the connection right away. “What good is a cushion in an earthquake?” I ignorantly thought aloud. The hairs on my skin rose as I realized the grim reality. Yellow is bright and easier to see in rubble.

On the playground, the students were counted and sorted into groups. In around 10 minutes, the older students led the younger ones back home. I felt safe on the playground, as there wasn’t much to fall on our heads or bury us alive. The earth had finally come to a rest again. We went back into the teachers’ room and on the TV were images of a tsunami washing away cars, bridges and buildings as if they were nothing but toys. Not being able to read the Kanji on screen, I blurted out, “Where the fuck is that?” to a co-teacher. “Miyagi-Ken,” he replied, “It’s miles away. Northern Japan.”

When I got home I called my panicky parents and reassured them that all was okay. I went to the supermarket expecting it to be mayhem with people buying up stocks preparing for the end of Japan. But, life carried on as normal. I tried to gauge the faces of everyone. Were they scared? Apparently not. As I walked home I saw workers continuing to build a new house, unperturbed by the day’s events. I went home and tried to get back to my usual Friday-night routine. Sleeping was hard, frequent aftershocks, a feeling of seasickness and fear mongered by the media kept me awake for much of the night.

By Ben Cowles

About the Author

Ben Cowles has been living, working, traveling and teaching in East Asia for the past six years. Having grown tired of monkeying around in the class room, he has decided to turn his hairy opposable thumbs to freelance writing. Ben is currently the alpha male at MonkeyBoyGoes.com.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/03/09/my-experience-during-the-japan-earthquake-one-year-ago/feed/0Where To Find Snow Monsters In Japanhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/02/15/where-to-find-snow-monsters-in-japan/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/02/15/where-to-find-snow-monsters-in-japan/#commentsWed, 15 Feb 2012 23:22:32 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=15794For those of us in that vast portion of North America that has remained snow-free for most of the year, the idea of a snow monster haunting the frigid landscape outside the safe confines of our homes seems a bit abstract. But in Japan, it is a very real prospect, that is if you consider […]

For those of us in that vast portion of North America that has remained snow-free for most of the year, the idea of a snow monster haunting the frigid landscape outside the safe confines of our homes seems a bit abstract. But in Japan, it is a very real prospect, that is if you consider oddly shaped trees to be your kind of nightmare.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/02/15/where-to-find-snow-monsters-in-japan/feed/1I Wish Annoying Tourists Would Leave The Tsukiji Fish Market Alonehttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/01/03/i-wish-annoying-tourists-would-leave-the-tsukiji-fish-market-alone/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/01/03/i-wish-annoying-tourists-would-leave-the-tsukiji-fish-market-alone/#commentsTue, 03 Jan 2012 22:31:21 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=13833I’m crazy for pictures. You put a picture of a cheeseburger in the menu of a five-star restaurant and that’s what I’m ordering. Screw the caviar, unless there’s a picture, it’s losing out to the photo option. Apparently, my quirkiness also works for travel. In particular, I recently came across a photo essay of Tokyo’s […]

I’m crazy for pictures. You put a picture of a cheeseburger in the menu of a five-star restaurant and that’s what I’m ordering. Screw the caviar, unless there’s a picture, it’s losing out to the photo option. Apparently, my quirkiness also works for travel. In particular, I recently came across a photo essay of Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market that really made me regret not going there last time I was in the Japanese capital. I’ve always wanted a 5 a.m. photo of myself with a 100-pound tuna. Who doesn’t, right?

For the world famous fish market, the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami was particularly devastating. Let’s just say it took time to return to some normalcy: several weeks before visitors started to return and several more months before the notorious hordes of tourists came back.

Though the hectic fish auction located in the inner market (Jonai Shijo, which tourists are allowed to enter after 9:00 a.m) and the overlooked high-end melon auction in the outer market (Jogai Shijo, which opens at 9:30 a.m.) are usually considered the main attractions by visitors, I beg to differ.

It’s actually the stupidity of the tourists that may be as interesting as anything going on with the seafood. CNNGo recently reported that “visitor antics [were getting] out of hand.” What does that look like exactly? Click here to see a (fairly embarrassing) video example documenting some of those “out of hand” actions, including visitors riding on the back of the machines as they were transporting goods around the market, people taking photos while licking the fish and tourists putting their grubby hands on the goods.

Though the market is marketed as a destination to visit, the fact remains that it is purely a working market. In other words: don’t be a dumb ass. For a month in 2010, the market was completely closed to visitors because of these shenanigans. Luckily, my 5 a.m. photo with a tuna is still a possibility today. Currently, auctions are available to the first 120 visitors, on a first-come basis, beginning at 5 a.m. The market opens completely at 9 a.m, hours after the auctions have concluded.

And if you are going to be a part of early morning crowd, behave yourself and grab your camera. It is, after all, one of the busiest and most visited food markets in the entire world.

Jon lives in Butte, Montana, spending most of his time on skis or bikes; sometimes both. He began travel writing while teaching in Korea and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Technical Communication at Montana Tech. Jon has begun writing his first book, The Story of Will, whose movie rights are still (very) available. Catch more of Jon at TheJonWickproject.wordpress.com. (@ExpedJon)

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2012/01/03/i-wish-annoying-tourists-would-leave-the-tsukiji-fish-market-alone/feed/15 Crazy Crowd Videos From Japanhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/10/18/5-crazy-crowd-videos-from-japan/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/10/18/5-crazy-crowd-videos-from-japan/#commentsTue, 18 Oct 2011 16:45:20 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=12825Just outside Shibuya Station is perhaps the world’s most famous crosswalk next to Abbey Road’s. Billed as the world’s busiest crosswalk, this mind-numbing stroll is only accentuated by the pulsating video projections overhead. Tokyo’s subway stations are crowded already, but throw in the prospect of a fireworks show, and you’ve got yourself the recipe for […]

Just outside Shibuya Station is perhaps the world’s most famous crosswalk next to Abbey Road’s. Billed as the world’s busiest crosswalk, this mind-numbing stroll is only accentuated by the pulsating video projections overhead.

Tokyo’s subway stations are crowded already, but throw in the prospect of a fireworks show, and you’ve got yourself the recipe for a pool of humanity. Your best bet: Close your eyes and just let the masses take you along.

You had me at people-filled wave pool. This video, taken from Water Adventure Tokyo Summerland, makes me thankful for the discovery of the cleansing powers of chlorine.

What better way to kick off you morning commute than a legion of eager white-gloved train workers groping your body, hoping to cram you into an overpacked train? This video, taken during the morning commute at the Toyoko Line station between Shibuya and Yokohama, shows how effective the Japanese are at getting along in small spaces.

Just casually mentioning the prospect of an appearance by boy band Arashi, and you’ve got yourself a near riot of pre-teens in a crowded block in Tokyo.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/10/18/5-crazy-crowd-videos-from-japan/feed/310,000 People To Be Given Free Trips To Japanhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/10/11/10000-people-to-be-given-free-trips-to-japan/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/10/11/10000-people-to-be-given-free-trips-to-japan/#commentsTue, 11 Oct 2011 17:26:53 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=12794In an effort to boost tourism to Japan following a 50 percent decline in visitors since the March 11 earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster, the Japan Tourism Agency announced it will be offering 10,000 free trips to the country beginning next April. It appears that this offer covers flights only, and visitors will […]

Last time I wrote a report like this, it was on my first day back to school in third grade, and I’m not sure how they’re going to enforce this given the report is due after you’ve already taken advantage of their offer, but here’s to promoting an amazing country and thinking outside the box in promoting travel.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/10/11/10000-people-to-be-given-free-trips-to-japan/feed/45 Best Places To Scuba Dive In The World That Have Nothing To Do With Fishhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/09/13/5-best-places-to-scuba-dive-in-the-world-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-fish/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/09/13/5-best-places-to-scuba-dive-in-the-world-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-fish/#commentsTue, 13 Sep 2011 17:52:18 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=12642It’s hard to imagine that someone would get bored limiting their diving experiences to coral reefs, but for those looking for a little variety in their underwater adventures, why not try exploring some of the world’s best places to dive that have absolutely nothing to do with animals that could populate a Disney movie? For […]

It’s hard to imagine that someone would get bored limiting their diving experiences to coral reefs, but for those looking for a little variety in their underwater adventures, why not try exploring some of the world’s best places to dive that have absolutely nothing to do with animals that could populate a Disney movie?

For example, in the Caribbean waters off of Cancun, Mexico, is the Underwater Museum of Modern Art, a creation of artist Jason deCaires Taylor who planted over 400 life-sized coral-friendly sculptures on the seabed, offering divers a once-in-a-lifetime museum-going experience.

Or if X-Files-like encounters are more your thing, near the Yaeyama Islands off the westernmost point of Japan is an underwater pyramid whose origin has yet to be explained. Natural phenomena, aliens, ancient Egyptians way off course — no one knows for sure, but scientists are at least sure the structure dates back some 5,000 – 8,000 years.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/09/13/5-best-places-to-scuba-dive-in-the-world-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-fish/feed/3The 5 Most Frightening “Dancing Squid” Videoshttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/08/16/the-5-most-frightening-dancing-squid-videos/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/08/16/the-5-most-frightening-dancing-squid-videos/#commentsTue, 16 Aug 2011 16:20:04 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=12389Odori-don, which literally means “dancing squid rice bowl,” is a dish popular in the Japanese port city of Hakodate, as well as a newly-popular viral video craze. As FoodJapan.net describes the dish, Odori-don consists of a live squid with its head removed and served on top of a bowl of sushi rice, accompanied by sashimi […]

Odori-don, which literally means “dancing squid rice bowl,” is a dish popular in the Japanese port city of Hakodate, as well as a newly-popular viral video craze. As FoodJapan.net describes the dish, Odori-don consists of a live squid with its head removed and served on top of a bowl of sushi rice, accompanied by sashimi prepared from the head, along with other seafood.

Though a traditional dish for the area, the method of pouring seasoned soy sauce on top of the squid to make it “dance” prior to preparation is a relatively new phenomena made popular by the numerous YouTube videos patrons have been sharing of their recent dishes.

In honor of “Video Week” here at TheExpeditioner.com, I’ve decided to put together five of my favorite — okay, frightening — Odori-don videos for your viewing pleasure. As an editor’s note, I’d recommend not watching any of these videos within two hours of eating, sleeping or operating heavy machinery. So, basically, 2:37 p.m. is the only time you should watch these.

1) This is the video that kicked off the recent craze, and will be the cause of many sleepless nights here in the Stabile household.

2) This dish’s presentation actually looks amazing, even inviting with the red complementing the earthy colors of the bed of vegetables and other seafood under the squid. Then a human gets involved and it’s all downhill from there.

3) This video just makes me sad to be a part of the human race. I’m officially becoming a vegetarian.

4) My roommate just walked in and asked why I was screaming at the top of my lungs, “Stop poking it! For the love of God, leave it be!”

5) After watching only a few seconds, this one literally caused me to run and hide behind my shower curtain in my bathtub while crying helplessly.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2011/08/16/the-5-most-frightening-dancing-squid-videos/feed/2Are The Japanese Anti-Traveler?http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/04/23/are-the-japanese-anti-traveler/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/04/23/are-the-japanese-anti-traveler/#commentsFri, 23 Apr 2010 12:00:30 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=6688There’s been some buzz lately here in New York about fake signs cropping up in the NYC subway system. Designed to look like official decrees from the MTA, these posters instruct riders to avoid doing those ever-so-annoying things you’d be surprised people actually do, and quite often I might add, such as clipping their nails […]

There’s been some buzz lately here in New York about fake signs cropping up in the NYC subway system. Designed to look like official decrees from the MTA, these posters instruct riders to avoid doing those ever-so-annoying things you’d be surprised people actually do, and quite often I might add, such as clipping their nails or singing along to their iPod while riding the trains.

It turns out the Tokyo Metro has their very own similar signage, except these are for real, and quite a bit more entertaining. But I found a certain disturbing trend in them that I thought I’d share. What do you think, is the Japanese Metro anti-traveler?

NO RAMEN

Don’t the Japanese know we’re poor travelers, living off measly summer earnings or grandma’s birthday money, and the last thing we can afford to do is splurge on real food. Take away our ramen and you might as well put a bullet in our head.

NO SLEEPING ANYWHERE YOU FEEL

Do I have to repeat myself, we’re broke! We don’t have money for fancy things like beds or actual hotel rooms. That seat is totally not being used, and if I want to save $10.00 by shacking up on it for the next six hours, then that’s my prerogative. I paid for a ticket, didn’t I? Oh, that empty beer can. I swear, it was there when I got here.

NO BLOGGING DURING YOUR TRIP

Not only do I have to call home ever other week to let Mom know I’m okay, I have to update my Twitter account, set my Facebook status, enter in today’s blog, and line up a hostel for tomorrow night. It’s okay for Ms. Librarian next to me to read, but I can’t get a little work done while I’m on my way home? And yes, I do wear a tie while traveling. It’s cool now, keeps the local police from hassling me.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/04/23/are-the-japanese-anti-traveler/feed/3Japan’s Ramen-mania And The Perfect Bowlhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/25/japans-ramen-mania-and-the-perfect-bowl/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/25/japans-ramen-mania-and-the-perfect-bowl/#commentsThu, 25 Feb 2010 13:40:49 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=5795My last step on Asian soil was at Tokyo’s Narita Airport. The week before I headed home, I was soaking up as much as I could of the Japanese culture, history, sake, and food. It wasn’t long into the wide-eyed lostness of trying to find my hostel that I noticed a grumble in my belly and a waft of ramen in […]

My last step on Asian soil was at Tokyo’s Narita Airport. The week before I headed home, I was soaking up as much as I could of the Japanese culture, history, sake, and food. It wasn’t long into the wide-eyed lostness of trying to find my hostel that I noticed a grumble in my belly and a waft of ramen in the air. Soon, after an overly nice stranger dropped me off in front of my destination and helped me unload my bags, I began my search for food.

I wandered back to the main drag and began scouring the store fronts and their ubiquitous plastic food displays. In between a convenience store and a sushi shop (that would have to wait for my next meal), I found sustenance in a beautiful bowl of ramen. Now, this wasn’t the freeze-dried block of tangled mess we all lived on in college. This ramen was delicately prepared, an orchestra of ingredients, and well worth the almost $9.00 USD I paid. Maybe the best money I spent in all of Japan.

My little jaunt was nothing compared to the voyage by the NYT’s Frugal Traveler not long ago. For six days, the author fully immersed himself in nothing but Japanese ramen culture; roughly four bowls a day. He described the cuisine as, “handmade and artisanal, almost everything is fresh, from long-simmered broths and hand-cut noodles to pigs raised on red wine (for an inside-out marinade).” He relished in the apparent regional variations. From a soy-enhanced chicken broth found on Japan’s main island of Honshu, to the more widespread pork bone broth from the southern island of Kyushu, or the garlicky, thicker noodled miso soup from Sapporo.

He discovers the ramen culture as more of a craze, something akin to a New Yorker’s love of pizza combined with the south’s passion for barbecue. It’s so beloved, that the Shinyokohama Raumen Museum lists over 4,100 shops selling the noodles in Tokyo alone (and I won’t even get into the books, magazines, TV shows, and movies dedicated to this dish).

I have to wonder, with all the hype and so many different gourmet versions of the brothy noodles, is there such a thing as the perfect bowl of ramen noodles?

My answer: absolutely, and I will happily keep searching until I find it.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2010/02/25/japans-ramen-mania-and-the-perfect-bowl/feed/0Video: Addicting Aquariumhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/12/31/video-addicting-aquarium/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/12/31/video-addicting-aquarium/#commentsThu, 31 Dec 2009 15:31:54 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=4920This short video of the world’s second largest aquarium in the world — Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan (the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the record holder, for now, until this beast in Dubai opens next year) — is strangely hypnotic given that it’s a single-shot of a bunch of marine life swimming by at […]

This short video of the world’s second largest aquarium in the world — Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan (the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is the record holder, for now, until this beast in Dubai opens next year) — is strangely hypnotic given that it’s a single-shot of a bunch of marine life swimming by at a snail’s pace. What’s amazing is that as you watch, you slowly realize how truly amazing the world’s water ec0-system is and it’s place in this world.

Highlight: Check out the scuba diver hop out of the way of the massive whale shark at 3:15. I don’t blame him.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/12/31/video-addicting-aquarium/feed/0Kyoto: The Japanese Neverlandhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/12/16/kyoto-the-japanese-neverland/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/12/16/kyoto-the-japanese-neverland/#commentsWed, 16 Dec 2009 15:31:15 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=4610Not long ago I wandered wide-eyed through the glory that is Kyoto. The ultra-modern Kyoto station gives way to an incomprehensible density of temples and shrines. It makes it feel like the steel and concrete city fell away, as if it never sprouted in the first place. Kyoto, I learned, isn’t a city or a […]

Not long ago I wandered wide-eyed through the glory that is Kyoto. The ultra-modern Kyoto station gives way to an incomprehensible density of temples and shrines. It makes it feel like the steel and concrete city fell away, as if it never sprouted in the first place. Kyoto, I learned, isn’t a city or a destination, it’s more a phenomenon.

It’s one of those special places you knew you’d want to remember once life in the cubicle sets in. I couldn’t quite put my thoughts into adequate words myself, until Tom Swick’s poetic words about his time there seemed to mirror the effortless Kyoto I remember.

“Everything — the scenery, the weather, the crowds — was touched with an otherworldly delicacy. I seemed not so much to walk but to float.” Later on, a local handed him a business card after asking for directions; her Western name on the front, “Becky.” Then he flipped the card over. “In Neverland.”

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/12/16/kyoto-the-japanese-neverland/feed/0Learn The Language? No, Just Get A Pair Of Smart Glasses Insteadhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/11/24/learn-the-language-no-just-get-a-pair-of-smart-glasses-instead/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/11/24/learn-the-language-no-just-get-a-pair-of-smart-glasses-instead/#commentsTue, 24 Nov 2009 17:02:25 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=4405This BBC article actually made me tilt my head a little and sigh, “wow,” under my breath (that hasn’t happened in a while). A company has just announced the invention of a pair of glasses that, when paired with a microphone and translation software, will project real-time translations into your eyes. There is also a […]

This BBC article actually made me tilt my head a little and sigh, “wow,” under my breath (that hasn’t happened in a while). A company has just announced the invention of a pair of glasses that, when paired with a microphone and translation software, will project real-time translations into your eyes. There is also a model combined with a headset, because just what the world needs is more confused telemarketers wandering about to hear the translated conversations you’re having.

The Tele Scouter, was originally designed to aid as an international business tool for sales calls. The spectacles will first go on sale November of 2010 in Japan.

Pretty “Star Trek,” eh? This contraption gives a new meaning to the phrase, “I see what you’re saying.” However, I can’t help but think that these will give even more travelers an excuse not to learn the language, or anything else for that matter, when they travel.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/11/24/learn-the-language-no-just-get-a-pair-of-smart-glasses-instead/feed/3Sumo Wrestling 101http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/11/03/sumo-wrestling-101/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/11/03/sumo-wrestling-101/#commentsTue, 03 Nov 2009 15:59:07 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=4194If there was one thing I could have changed about my recent trip to Japan, it would have to be the date. I say that only for the sole reason that it wasn’t sumo tournament season. The ancient form of wrestling holds tournaments at specific times of year; specifically, not while I’m there. Lucky for me, I can […]

If there was one thing I could have changed about my recent trip to Japan, it would have to be the date. I say that only for the sole reason that it wasn’t sumo tournament season. The ancient form of wrestling holds tournaments at specific times of year; specifically, not while I’m there.

Lucky for me, I can get my loin clothed kicks over at Matador. The article lines out a top ten list to do in order to become a sumo. I, and most likely you too, rather enjoy clog free arteries and a relatively bruise free breast bone, so I’ll pass on the six whopper a day training regimen.

Sumo, as I previously saw it, isn’t the train wreck that it seems to the untrained eye. You know, the kind of situation you catch yourself looking at, but don’t really want to be watching. As it turns out, the sport has its specific nuances and traditions, along with its unique athletes.

Although, I can’t help but think, it’s still a train wreck of sorts — two giant colliding freight trains — I guess I’ll just stick to those silly, inflatable costumes, for now.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/27/japan-in-pictures/feed/0Tried And True: Japan On The Cheaphttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/14/tried-and-true-japan-on-the-cheap/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/14/tried-and-true-japan-on-the-cheap/#commentsWed, 14 Oct 2009 16:51:02 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=3930Japan’s reputation is true; it is expensive as you’ve heard. Matt pretty much nailed it with this post, but it doesn’t have to break the bank (but don’t expect a SE Asia kind of cheap). With my own trip now concluded, I thought I’d share some first-hand knowledge I’ve learned to make it easier to […]

Japan’s reputation is true; it is expensive as you’ve heard. Matt pretty much nailed it with this post, but it doesn’t have to break the bank (but don’t expect a SE Asia kind of cheap). With my own trip now concluded, I thought I’d share some first-hand knowledge I’ve learned to make it easier to travel through this part of the world.

Staying– Hostels are the cheapest (I found a few for around $25/ night), readily available, and some even offer a small complimentary breakfast (another $5 savings). Manga Café’s are an internet addicted, caffeine infused alternative. You can reserve a private room for an 8 hour time block, with all the coffee, soda, DVD’s, and Internet Warcraft you can handle (private rooms around $30).

Eating– You’re going to want to sushi, right? Find a conveyer belt, they will always be more reasonable. For other grub, find a standup diner (above), a kind of bar and restaurant hybrid. Without chairs or stools, you’ll watch the cook whipping up food just behind the counter. There is also a restaurant you will recognize because of its vending machine type ordering machine outside the front door. Surprisingly enough, chains seem to be a bit cheaper overall (the Starbucks, McDonalds, Lotteria), and nothing beats a good ol’ convenient store lunch as you wait for the next train to arrive, either.

Travel– As a foreigner, you can’t beat the JR Rail Pass (about $300, and MUST be purchased OUTSIDE of Japan). Not only are you able to hop on any of the lightning quick long distance trains for no additional fee (Tokyo to Kyoto in under 3 hrs.), the JR tracks also crisscross the larger cities, almost eliminating a need for the subway or buses. It’s a big initial expense, but can easily pay for itself if you plan on doing any kind of traveling (a Tokyo to Kyoto round trip ticket is around $260).

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/14/tried-and-true-japan-on-the-cheap/feed/0Tokyo: The Electronics Promised Landhttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/11/tokyo-the-electronics-promised-land/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/11/tokyo-the-electronics-promised-land/#commentsSun, 11 Oct 2009 21:54:15 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=3893I’ve never been to Norway, until that happens, I won’t know what it’s like to visit the place of your ancestry. For the last couple days, this question has been spinning through my mind as I took my little Sony camera through the streets of Tokyo. Not quite the futuristic, Jetson-like city I had first […]

I’ve never been to Norway, until that happens, I won’t know what it’s like to visit the place of your ancestry. For the last couple days, this question has been spinning through my mind as I took my little Sony camera through the streets of Tokyo.

Not quite the futuristic, Jetson-like city I had first imagined, but Tokyo is definitely many few steps ahead of most. It started at the immigration offices. Passport stamp? I don’t think so — more like a barcode printout with a digital fingerprint scan. Then, the efficiency and precision of the bullet trains was staggering, waitresses took my order on a contraption resembling an iPhone rather than a notepad, and a visit to Akihabara (electronics city, pictured above) offers a dizzying amount of discounted electronics and seizure-inducing street lights.

I did my best to approach this phenomena with indifference — this is Japan after all — until I stepped foot into the Sony showroom in the Ginza area of town. This is where the current and future Sony ideas are on display. Let me tell you, the future is going to be cool. Concert quality earbuds and a home theater Bill Gates would be interested in. Then I turned into Tony Stark from Ironman with the new giant screen touch computers that are on their way. Correction: the future is going to be very cool.

As I walked away from the building I pulled out my Cybershot from my pocket. I took a picture of the sign on the the building and thought, “for this little camera, this must be a lot like the Promised Land.”

With all that I’ve seen and experienced in my short time in Tokyo, I’m becoming convinced it may be a Promised Land for more than just my little point and shoot.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/11/tokyo-the-electronics-promised-land/feed/0Kyoto, Japan: You Can’t Rain On This Temple Paradehttp://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/07/kyoto-japan-you-can%e2%80%99t-rain-on-this-temple-parade/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/07/kyoto-japan-you-can%e2%80%99t-rain-on-this-temple-parade/#commentsWed, 07 Oct 2009 13:54:26 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=3836The first day or two of any trip to a new country, you really just spend some time getting your bearings. Here in Japan . . . not gonna happen. There’s just too much to do, too much to see, and so little time. With rumors of a typhoon still lingering, I was riding the […]

The first day or two of any trip to a new country, you really just spend some time getting your bearings. Here in Japan . . . not gonna happen. There’s just too much to do, too much to see, and so little time. With rumors of a typhoon still lingering, I was riding the “superexpress” train through downpours on the way to everything that is Japanese history, Kyoto.

The traditional cultural center of Japan, Kyoto has seventeen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, about six gazillion Buddhist temples, and even though it’s a thriving city of one and a half million, it has some kind of beautiful shrine around every corner it seems.

There are literally too many places to describe. Each site one-upped the last with its unique flavor; an ancient moated castle, incense rising from a Buddhist temple, bamboo forests surrounding delicately manicured Zen rock gardens, and buildings seemingly floating in the middle of a pond. You get the point. I told myself I wouldn’t get templed out, maybe it was the constant rain or the miles walked, but even the most determined sometimes go down. Kyoto will do that to you.

Two things will stick with me as I head to Tokyo. First, one temple seems to surpass the rest, the golden Kinkaku-ji. This three story pavilion is completely wrapped in gold and “floats” in a pond, surrounded by lush forest. It’s quite famous in Japan, and deservedly so, and it was crowded despite the rain and was still that wicked. The other, a more intimate experience, happened down a quiet alley when searching for a dinner spot. I was deciphering a window menu to look up and see a geisha passing by. Once I got my wits about me, she disappeared into a restaurant, not to be seen again.

Typhoon or not, with its golden temple and real life geishas, Kyoto might just be the Japan I had always imagined.

]]>http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/10/07/kyoto-japan-you-can%e2%80%99t-rain-on-this-temple-parade/feed/0TheExped Is Japan Bound!http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/09/27/the-exped-is-japan-bound/
http://www.theexpeditioner.com/2009/09/27/the-exped-is-japan-bound/#commentsSun, 27 Sep 2009 11:39:04 +0000http://www.theexpeditioner.com/?p=3736As I wrap up my time in Asia, I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to squeeze in a trip to one of the most idyllic of Asian destinations out there: Japan. A few hostel reservations have finally been made between my scouring of the guidebook, forums, and posts here. With my JR Pass officially in […]

As I wrap up my time in Asia, I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to squeeze in a trip to one of the most idyllic of Asian destinations out there: Japan. A few hostel reservations have finally been made between my scouring of the guidebook, forums, and posts here. With my JR Pass officially in hand (it is not available in Japan), I’m nearly on my way. Isn’t trip preparation and anticipation a great aspect of travel?

This is literally Japan 101 for me. The rumors of breaking the bank on the notoriously expensive island have kept me away from there, until now. I’m nearly a stone’s throw away, in Korea, and not visiting Japan would be awfully regrettable, regardless of price. So in just over a week, I will set foot in Tokyo’s Narita Airport for a weeklong whirlwind of the country. Conveyor belt sushi, the heart of modern technology, mesmerizing temples, geisha, and capsules; it’s going to be a phenomenal trip.

With only a week’s time there, I’ve decided to do “classic” Japan; splitting time between Tokyo’s glitzy modernity, and staying grounded in Kyoto’s ancient traditions. Weather permitting, a foray in the direction Mt. Fuji would appease the adventurer in me, but that looks to be a game time decision.

With that rough outline, and my trip notes doing little more than circling specifics, are there any suggestions you could offer? Particular neighborhoods, temples, foods, sites? Matt offered up a great suggestion of Memory Lane, a cool back alley and the inspiration behind “Blade Runner.” Really, the sheer number of possibilities is mind blowing in a place like this, so I’m happy to entertain any suggestions from the seasoned veterans out there. Simply leave a comment below, and I’ll keep you posted until I depart.

While I’m here I’ll be posting entries and pictures as I can. I’m sure there will be enough to share for a while.